A blog by a British Muslim girl

Israel

We are halfway through Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims and this last week has been difficult to say the least. I’m not referring to the fasting aspect, I’m referring to attack on Gaza. All week myself and many others have been posting pictures and articles about the reality of Operation ‘Protective Edge’. Over 150 Palestinians have died in less than a week, many of those women and children. I don’t need to sit here and retell the disgusting attitude and ideology of the Zionists who rule over Israel and many other governments in the world. But I will ask this: Why is a Palestinian life worth less than an Israeli one? Is it because the masses have become desensitised by the struggle of the Palestinians? A struggle that has gone on for over 60 years where Palestinians have been denied human rights. A struggle against apartheid, and a struggle to keep their homes from being destroyed and their land stolen so that illegal settlements can be built. The settlements (illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention) give Jews the right to come from anywhere in the world and live there — The Law of Return, which is the main tenet of Zionism, is racism at its best. Torture the existing residents to such an extent that they flee the country, or bomb them so they die thus making room for the Jewish people around the world who already have homes in other countries. Crazy law which so many believe in.

So what is the international community’s problem? Why has the reporting of events in Gaza been so lacklustre in organisations like the BBC and American media? Demonstrations took place all over the world supporting the people of Gaza but very few media outlets reported it. Why are Palestinians lives worth less than Israeli lives? Is it because the West wants the only non-Muslim country in the Middle East to remain non-Muslim? Is it pure racism, even though the Palestinian and Israeli people are both Semites and actually have the same race? Is it guilt following centuries of persecution of Jews, and now it’s ok for Jewish Israelis to swap roles from oppressed to oppressor? Is it because of the millions of dollars worth of trade in arms and goods that would be lost if they spoke out against Israel? America gives millions of its citizens dollars to Israel in weapons and aid. Why? Is it because of the Biblical prophecy which promises Jews the holy land? Or is it because the people at the top have bought into the Zionist ideology? Whatever the reason, apparently it’s ok for Israel to kill 150 civilians because even if they’re not part of Hamas, they probably know somebody in Hamas or if they are children then they will become terrorists. If they are women, that’s ok because they give birth to terrorists. This is just some of the mindset of people who have been brought up listening to Israeli propaganda. Whatever the reason, this is not acceptable by any standards.

Let’s be honest and clear about this. The reality is this — Israel wants to get rid of all the Palestinians in Palestine for land and land only. They have been trying to do this for decades by making the lives miserable of those in the occupied territories, by building more and more illegal settlements and by simply attacking them with air strikes, bombs and other methods. Hundreds and thousands of Palestinians have fled since the creation of Israel, as their homes were destroyed and they were made refugees in their own country. (What about their right to return?) But for those that stayed they are still experiencing the ethnic cleansing and apartheid regime by Israel. They are resisting at the cost of their lives and their children’s lives. Israelis love using the phrase ‘human shields’. When you don’t have anything and you will not leave your home under the pressure of Israel, what can you do? Only resist and throw stones. According to international law those in illegal occupied territories are allowed to fight and resist legally.

The situation is dire and the world leaders need to wake up and stand up against injustice. For us mere mortals all we can do is raise awareness and complain about one sided reporting. So please when you see injustice stand up and fight against it. Complain, demonstrate, share the truth, this is the minimum we can do. And maybe somebody will listen one day.

Like this:

Today, a double suicide bombing killed about 80 people and injured more than a hundred in Northwest Pakistan. The Pakistani Taliban has taken responsibility, claiming to avenge the death of Osama Bin Laden. The majority of the dead were young army recruits who had just finished a training course. How is killing 80 Pakistanis revenge for Bin Laden? Bin Laden was killed by US forces that didn’t calibrate with Pakistan when the raid was carried out. I’m not saying target Americans, but why these young Pakistani men? It’s been said, Pakistan has lost the most lives, since the war on terror began. 700 have died from drone attacks by the US forces. Thousands have died in blasts and suicide bombings. Why?

Pakistan has been under tremendous pressure since 9/11. According to George W. Bush ‘you’re either with us, or against us’. President Musharraf had little choice but to befriend America, much to the annoyance of most Pakistanis. Suicide bombings were unheard of ten years ago- this sort of terrorism only began in Pakistan post 9/11. Allowing America the use of its air space and allying with George Bush in the war against terror, President Musharraf did his country a great disservice. This gave the extremist ideology that is linked with Al-qaeda, a green light and an excuse to start a war of it’s own. In-bred extremists within Pakistan started creeping out from beneath the surface. The Islamic political parties started gaining more support. Ten years on little has changed. Except Osama Bin Laden was found in Abbotabad, apparently having lived there for years. So much for helping the world in the war against terror. Now that they’ve found him and killed him, can’t they just leave Afghanistan? If only it was that easy. The billions that have been spent by the Allies in Afghanistan are too precious for them to just leave. They’ve made a mess of it, and they’re going to stay until it’s not worth their while.

One thing that has stricken a chord with me was the chilling video that was supplied by Al-qaeda after Bin Laden’s death. I only read the transcript, and it left me feeling uneasy and uncomfortable. The line I cannot forget is this one – ‘America and anyone who lives in America will not enjoy peace until our people in Palestine enjoy it.’ Apart from the mention of Pakistan and America, Palestine is the only other country mentioned. Not Iraq and not Afghanistan. Their message is pretty damn clear. It all comes down to Israel, and America’s foreign policy and backing of Israel. If you want to understand Al-qaeda’s ideology and motivation, this statement says it all. When an organisation or people commit such acts of terrorism, it’s logical for us to look at the root of the problem. Why are there so many disgruntled people in the world? Why do so many people dislike America? Why is it so easy for young Muslims to become radicalised? Tell them a little about Palestine and America’s foreign policy and that should get them started somewhat.

There is much talk about what America should do in relation to Pakistan. What should America do? If it wants to tackle extremism and terrorism, it MUST re-think it’s stance towards Israel. The military and financial backing of Israel is the reason Israel is able to continue oppressing Palestinians. This is not negotiating with terrorists; this is about doing the right thing in the interest of all citizens across the Western world and the Muslim world.

Like this:

It’s not often that I’m embarrassed and uncomfortable about the fact that I am British. But occasionally it does happen. Benjamin Netanyahu is in town today and has been welcomed by our PM, David Cameron. Read the transcript here. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. Britain has long been a friend to Israel, with Tony Blair being a member of the ‘Friends of Israel’ organisation as well as numerous other MPs. I just find it bewildering that treating this man with respect and importance is acceptable. I don’t need to sit here and list the atrocities that Israel has committed since its creation in 1947. The sheer number of Palestinians that have been kicked out of their homes and made into refugees comes into the thousands. The injustice towards the Palestinians in their own land is so incomprehensible that most of the world have given up trying to fight the Palestinian cause. With such strong economic and moral support from the US, Israel is in such a strong position that it can get away with such mistreatment and injustice.

The good news however is that Fateh and Hamas have reconciliated and are joining forces in a move which shines as a glimmer of hope for Palestine. Of course Netanyahu has condemned this move and is claiming that it is a blow for peace and ‘victory for terrorism’. He knows that Fateh and Hamas combining will cause big problems for Israel. Together the Palestinian side will be stronger and able to play a bigger part in the peace process. Netanyahu is here in the UK on his way to the states, apparently to present a peace initiative. This is a man who has built illegal settlement after settlement on Palestinian land, displacing thousands of people from their homes. After Obama told Israel they couldn’t keep building settlements in the West Bank, Netanyahu did not really adhere. He said he will curb some expansion but that is limited by the ‘natural growth’ of the population. Where else in the world can an individual go and gain citizenship in a foreign land based solely on their religious background, at the cost of displacing the original occupier of the land? Nowhere is the answer, as it’s completely outrageous.

I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a new era. I pray that Palestine is able to become the free sovereign independent state that it was for so many centuries prior to the Zionist movement. Long live Palestine!